Table Saw vs. Miter Saw: Which One to Get?

There's some confusion for some folks on what kind of saw to get. Sometimes a table saw is effective; other times, a miter saw. It depends on the kind of user and usage.

If you can afford it, then, by all means, buy both since having tools like this comes in handy. But for people with a tight budget, we can help you decide what's best between the table saw and miter saw and which one to get.

So, let’s start the table saw vs. miter saw debate.

Table Saw

A table saw is a very versatile tool used in woodworking. There are many different kinds of table saws that come in different shapes and sizes. In private woodshops, table saws usually stand on their legs while in industrial woodshops, the table saw is supported on a cabinet.

The circular edged blade is fixed into a tabletop surface that's flat. There's either a motor under the table or a motor attached to the side of the table. The blade runs with the power coming from the motor.

These kinds of saws are very large, heavy, and hard to move around or transport unless you have the required equipment for deconstructing and reconstructing again.

Uses

Making cross cuts

Separating lumber

Building furniture and cabinets

Making miter cuts

Shaping wood

Pros

It can deal with heavy and large lumber pieces

It can also handle small detailed work

Cons

Not portable

It takes up a lot of space

Miter Saw

Miter saws are saws that you can place on a workbench, and its blade is mounted on an arm that can be adjusted. They even have extension arms for extra support.

There are different kinds of miter saws, but the basic miter saw is the one that is mostly used to make straight cuts. You use the basic miter saw and make 90-degree angle cuts through planks of wood.

Another type of miter saw is the compound miter saw. It does the same thing as a basic miter saw. The extra feature that makes it differ from the basic saw is that you can cut with a bevel with the compound saw. You can tilt the blade into your desired position or angle on the wood and cut.

Uses

Cutting wooden planks

Framing

Crown molding

Making miter cuts

Shaping wood

Casing

Cross-cutting

Trimming

Making bevel cuts

Pros

Portable

Has extension arms for support

Faster

Easier to handle

Can make consecutive repeated cuts

Cons

Can't handle heavy-duty woodworking

Table Saw vs. Miter Saw: Which One Should You Get?

There are some important factors that could affect your decision on which saw to get. These are given below:

Function and Effort

As we can see, with a table saw, we move the wood along the rotating blade and push it towards the blade, so it gets ripped. On the other hand, when you're using a miter saw, you move the saw blade along with the wood instead.

It's the other way around. For the user, if they want something easy to use that won't take much effort, then they should go for the miter saw.

Usage Type

When it comes to versatility, you should definitely pick the table saw. Even though table saws are mostly used to cut large pieces of lumber, the same blade can also be used to make small cuts on smaller pieces of wood. Whereas, the miter saw cannot be used to cut large wood pieces.

An advantage the miter saw has over table saws is that it can make quick and repetitive cuts into the wood that look precisely the same. A table saw can't handle that sort of precision.

Space and Portability

When it comes to space, there's a difference in the table and miter saws. Table saws can't be used inside a small room in a house. A garage would be good enough for space, but large open areas like factories or woodshop schools would be the right kind of space to use a table saw since it's large in size.

But a miter saw can be used anywhere and carried around from place to place.

Conclusion

Between a table saw and miter saw, it's hard for beginners to know which one to get. All you need to do is focus on the reasons why you're buying your saw.

Address your objective and the type of tasks you need to perform. After that, match the tasks with the saw's functions and characteristics. That way, you can know which saw you need to get.

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